https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...e-leagues/

Frankly, this seems like desperation on CUSA’s part. I would wager that this has zero potential for actually being considered and will further diminish our conference in the end. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. It isn’t. But, where is the incentive for the AAC to even consider?

I'm way more interested in what combination of 8 schools he's hearing from "industry sources" that makes any sense that doesn't involve MWC schools.

(10-12-2021 04:03 PM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Frankly, this seems like desperation on CUSA’s part. I would wager that this has zero potential for actually being considered and will further diminish our conference in the end. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. It isn’t. But, where is the incentive for the AAC to even consider?

It is most likely a death rattle for Judy. It isn't even that wrong or bad of an idea, but it simply won't happen as it requires too many egos to come to some sort of an agreement collectively when everyone secretly believes they are special and can one day move up to the P5. I don't think it will really hurt C-USA though, we are on life support anyway. The AAC and SBC will take the pieces they want and leave the rest hanging out to dry.

1) She has to try something because CUSA is done for

2) She is basically pointing at Aresco and telling the media, "look at this guy, he has $100 and thinks he's a millionaire."

Maybe the media or ESPN will help her efforts knowing she's right. Probably not but it's worth a shot.

I don't really read it as desperation from CUSA. Currently the AAC will no longer be an FBS conference after 2022-2023. There have been rumors of schools saying they don't have the $5-15m it would take to move from CUSA to AAC ($5m if AAC waives its entrance fee, $15m if not).

To me, it reads like schools are interested in shifting around, but they don't want to spend millions to do it. Whether or not they and Judy actually have that kind of leverage remains to be seen.

(10-12-2021 04:42 PM)Gakusei Wrote:  I don't really read it as desperation from CUSA. Currently the AAC will no longer be an FBS conference after 2022-2023. There have been rumors of schools saying they don't have the $5-15m it would take to move from CUSA to AAC ($5m if AAC waives its entrance fee, $15m if not).

To me, it reads like schools are interested in shifting around, but they don't want to spend millions to do it. Whether or not they and Judy actually have that kind of leverage remains to be seen.

The AAC does not have a 10 million entrance fee, it’s 2.5 million. Exit fee is 10 million.

The number of AAC schools interested in this is approximately zero, and not but a few more in the Sun Belt.

(10-12-2021 04:46 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  The AAC does not have a 10 million entrance fee, it’s 2.5 million. Exit fee is 10 million.

Ah, thanks for that clarification; I hadn't seen that before.

Conference USA needs to form a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West--CBS' other Gang of 5 property. There would be alot of value in that. They need to first and foremost cut off scheduling the Sun Belt Conference, who benefits far more from scheduling CUSA then CUSA does from scheduling them.

This would force the Sun Belt to schedule non-conference mostly from the culturally different Mid-American Conference as it is unlikely the AAC would jump at the opportunity to form a scheduling alliance with the Sun Belt. The AAC would be too proud to do that since they consider the Sun Belt to be inferior.

Since it is clear that ESPN's properties are not diplomatic, CUSA and the Mountain West need to start cutting off ESPN properties in the Gang of 5. It would benefit them.

Memphis, SMU and USF have one foot out the door from the AAC. I wonder if Arresco actually hurt the image of the AAC with his big mouth and the P6 non-sense.

As it is, there are no schools outside of AAC and MWC that would be valuable since only a couple of MAC teams made the NY6 Bowls to replaced the schools that are leaving.

(10-12-2021 04:57 PM)All4One Wrote:  Conference USA needs to form a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West--CBS' other Gang of 5 property. There would be alot of value in that. They need to first and foremost cut off scheduling the Sun Belt Conference, who benefits far more from scheduling CUSA then CUSA does from scheduling them.

This would force the Sun Belt to schedule non-conference mostly from the culturally different Mid-American Conference as it is unlikely the AAC would jump at the opportunity to form a scheduling alliance with the Sun Belt. The AAC would be too proud to do that since they consider the Sun Belt to be inferior.

Since it is clear that ESPN's properties are not diplomatic, CUSA and the Mountain West need to start cutting off ESPN properties in the Gang of 5. It would benefit them.

Cutting out games against non conference regional opponents would be another nail in the coffin for CUSA.

(10-12-2021 05:16 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 04:57 PM)All4One Wrote:  Conference USA needs to form a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West--CBS' other Gang of 5 property. There would be alot of value in that. They need to first and foremost cut off scheduling the Sun Belt Conference, who benefits far more from scheduling CUSA then CUSA does from scheduling them.

This would force the Sun Belt to schedule non-conference mostly from the culturally different Mid-American Conference as it is unlikely the AAC would jump at the opportunity to form a scheduling alliance with the Sun Belt. The AAC would be too proud to do that since they consider the Sun Belt to be inferior.

Since it is clear that ESPN's properties are not diplomatic, CUSA and the Mountain West need to start cutting off ESPN properties in the Gang of 5. It would benefit them.

Cutting out games against non conference regional opponents would be another nail in the coffin for CUSA.

Why? Belt schools don't draw any better for CUSA than anyone else they play.

Totally insane sounds like a business seeking a partnership when they are headed to bankruptcy.

AAC Adds Six
UAB
UTSA
RICE
FAU
La Tech
Charlotte

SBC adds four
North Texas
Marshall
ODU
Southern Miss

(10-12-2021 04:46 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 04:42 PM)Gakusei Wrote:  I don't really read it as desperation from CUSA. Currently the AAC will no longer be an FBS conference after 2022-2023. There have been rumors of schools saying they don't have the $5-15m it would take to move from CUSA to AAC ($5m if AAC waives its entrance fee, $15m if not).

To me, it reads like schools are interested in shifting around, but they don't want to spend millions to do it. Whether or not they and Judy actually have that kind of leverage remains to be seen.

The AAC does not have a 10 million entrance fee, it’s 2.5 million. Exit fee is 10 million.

But it's about $5.8m in exit fess from CUSA (two years of distributions). So a school leaving CUSA needs to come up with around $8.3m to move.

Mind you the AAC would likely spread the entrance fee over five years, simply withholding $500K in distributions each year, but some of these schools need the money up front and it's not at all clear the AAC is willing to forward distribute (Maryland got that from the B1G). It is also likely the AAC has some requirements for increased spending that are difficult for these CUSA schools to meet. These could be factors, at least for some schools.

(10-12-2021 05:19 PM)All4One Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 05:16 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 04:57 PM)All4One Wrote:  Conference USA needs to form a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West--CBS' other Gang of 5 property. There would be alot of value in that. They need to first and foremost cut off scheduling the Sun Belt Conference, who benefits far more from scheduling CUSA then CUSA does from scheduling them.

This would force the Sun Belt to schedule non-conference mostly from the culturally different Mid-American Conference as it is unlikely the AAC would jump at the opportunity to form a scheduling alliance with the Sun Belt. The AAC would be too proud to do that since they consider the Sun Belt to be inferior.

Since it is clear that ESPN's properties are not diplomatic, CUSA and the Mountain West need to start cutting off ESPN properties in the Gang of 5. It would benefit them.

Cutting out games against non conference regional opponents would be another nail in the coffin for CUSA.

Why? Belt schools don't draw any better for CUSA than anyone else they play.

The attendance record at Charlotte's stadium was set when App came to town. One of UTSA's best attended games was their first game against Texas State.

(10-12-2021 05:19 PM)All4One Wrote:  Why? Belt schools don't draw any better for CUSA than anyone else they play.

UTSA/TXST games are well attended. The two schools are rivals (I think).

(10-12-2021 05:19 PM)All4One Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 05:16 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 04:57 PM)All4One Wrote:  Conference USA needs to form a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West--CBS' other Gang of 5 property. There would be alot of value in that. They need to first and foremost cut off scheduling the Sun Belt Conference, who benefits far more from scheduling CUSA then CUSA does from scheduling them.

This would force the Sun Belt to schedule non-conference mostly from the culturally different Mid-American Conference as it is unlikely the AAC would jump at the opportunity to form a scheduling alliance with the Sun Belt. The AAC would be too proud to do that since they consider the Sun Belt to be inferior.

Since it is clear that ESPN's properties are not diplomatic, CUSA and the Mountain West need to start cutting off ESPN properties in the Gang of 5. It would benefit them.

Cutting out games against non conference regional opponents would be another nail in the coffin for CUSA.

Why? Belt schools don't draw any better for CUSA than anyone else they play.

TxSt vs UTSA had slightly over 39,000 for our first game in 2012 at the Alamodome, and 29,000 the 2nd time around. We had a little over 31,000 in San Marcos back in 2017 and likely would've been another sell out last year had it not been for covid. Both fan bases enjoy this game and I'm sure both ADs love the extra revenue earned in ticket sales, concessions, etc. There's a reason we signed a long term contract and will be playing every year until 2032.

(10-12-2021 04:54 PM)Gakusei Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 04:46 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  The AAC does not have a 10 million entrance fee, it’s 2.5 million. Exit fee is 10 million.

Ah, thanks for that clarification; I hadn't seen that before.

Exit fee varies by how fast you want out. UConn paid $17 million.

(10-12-2021 05:46 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 05:19 PM)All4One Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 05:16 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  

(10-12-2021 04:57 PM)All4One Wrote:  Conference USA needs to form a scheduling alliance with the Mountain West--CBS' other Gang of 5 property. There would be alot of value in that. They need to first and foremost cut off scheduling the Sun Belt Conference, who benefits far more from scheduling CUSA then CUSA does from scheduling them.

This would force the Sun Belt to schedule non-conference mostly from the culturally different Mid-American Conference as it is unlikely the AAC would jump at the opportunity to form a scheduling alliance with the Sun Belt. The AAC would be too proud to do that since they consider the Sun Belt to be inferior.

Since it is clear that ESPN's properties are not diplomatic, CUSA and the Mountain West need to start cutting off ESPN properties in the Gang of 5. It would benefit them.

Cutting out games against non conference regional opponents would be another nail in the coffin for CUSA.

Why? Belt schools don't draw any better for CUSA than anyone else they play.

The attendance record at Charlotte's stadium was set when App came to town. One of UTSA's best attended games was their first game against Texas State.

And what about the Florida schools, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Marshall? You gave me examples of schools that are in-state less than 2 hours apart. What does it benefit Florida International to play Texas State? Or Charlotte to play Georgia State?

Answer? It doesn't.